With the support of the OTKA grant capture cross section of several reactions important for the astrophysical p-process has been measured with the activation method at low energies. The following reactions have been studied: 74,76Se(p,g)75,77Br, 82Se(p,n)82Br, 106,108Cd(p,g)107,109In, 106Cd(a,g)110Sn, 106Cd(a,n)109Sn, 106Cd(a,p)109In, 112Sn(a,g)116Te. The experimental results have been compared with the predictions of statistical model calculations and the astrophysical conclusions have been drawn. In order to make the results of the activation experiments more reliable, high precision half-life measurements have been carried out for 110Sn and 109In. Alpha-nucleus optical potentials have been determined from elastic scattering experiments for the isotopes: 106Cd, 112,124Sn. The results have been compared with global optical potentials used in statistical models.
Absolute resonance strengths have been measured in the 6,7Li(a,g)10,11B reactions. The recoil separator measurement of the astrophysically important 12C(a,g)16O reaction can be made more precise with the results of the resonance strength experiments.
The electron screening effect important in low energy astrophysical reactions have been studied in the d(d,p)t reaction. Anomalously high screening potentials have been found in the case of deuterium targets implanted into different metals.